PHA production by mixed cultures: a way to valorize wastes from pulp industry

Bioresour Technol. 2014 Apr:157:197-205. doi: 10.1016/j.biortech.2014.01.099. Epub 2014 Feb 4.

Abstract

In this work, hardwood spent sulfite liquor (HSSL), a complex feedstock originating from the pulp industry, was tested for the first time as a substrate for polyhydroxyalkanoate (PHA) production by a mixed microbial culture (MMC) under aerobic dynamic feeding (ADF) conditions. A sequencing batch reactor (SBR) fed with HSSL was operated for 67days and the selected MMC reached a maximum PHA content of 67.6%. The MMC demonstrated a differential utilization of the carbon sources present in HSSL. Acetic acid was fully consumed, while xylose and lignosulphonates were partially consumed (30% and 14%, respectively). The selected culture was characterized by Fluorescence in Situ Hybridization (FISH). Bacteria belonging to the three main classes were identified: Alpha- (72.7±4.0%), Beta- (11.1±0.37%) and Gammaproteobacteria (10.3±0.3%). Within Alphaproteobacteria, a small amount of Paracoccus (4.2±0.51%) and Defluvicoccus related to Tetrad Forming Organisms (9.0±0.28%) were detected.

Keywords: Aerobic dynamic feeding; FISH; HSSL; Mixed microbial cultures; Polyhydroxyalkanoates.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Acetic Acid / analysis
  • Ammonium Compounds / analysis
  • Bacteria / metabolism*
  • Batch Cell Culture Techniques
  • Biological Oxygen Demand Analysis
  • Biomass
  • Bioreactors / microbiology
  • Industrial Waste*
  • Kinetics
  • Oxygen / analysis
  • Paper*
  • Polyhydroxyalkanoates / biosynthesis*

Substances

  • Ammonium Compounds
  • Industrial Waste
  • Polyhydroxyalkanoates
  • Acetic Acid
  • Oxygen